Apologies - work’s caught up with me and I’ve barely seen a live game since Monday, but after catching up on the PVR, here’s some thoughts…
After my last post where I bemoaned the lack of goals and action, now finally things are getting interesting as we enter the second match of the group stages. Perhaps because some of the reasons I’ve outlined - teams are now more used to the conditions and the ball, and now that the second games have arrived teams are bit less cagey. We’ve seen some good matches, some great goals and even shock of shocks, today a comeback from 1-0 down.
North Korea looked great and organised for the first hour of their game against Brazil, but spectacular though Maicon’s goal was, I’m going to be the party pooper and say the (generally woeful) North Korean keeper gave him too much room at his far post; after the goal he hung by his near post like a toddler by its mother. Perhaps that’s why North Korea nominated a striker in the third goalkeeper’s position - their regular goalies are no better. The consolation goal they got though was a great counter-attacking manoevure and Portugal & the Ivory Coast better look out. Brazil, for what its worth, were very slick tracking back as well as moving forward for the most part, and could be good enough to win it.
Switzerland “shocked” Spain 1-0 but then again, given Switzerland’s brilliant defensive record at the last World Cup (they didn’t concede a goal at all, the only team ever to do so at a World Cup Finals) and Spain’s tendency to make things hard for themselves, in retrospect it might not be that surprising a result. Argentina rumbled on past a South Korea side that stretched itself too far - but they didn’t look too far off making it 2-2. I’m still not convinced by Argentina’s organisation or defence.
Elsewhere - France are imploding horribly just like in 2002 - with too many old players, a terrible coach and disharmony in the squad; I just wish I’d put more than a couple of quid on them to not make it past the group stage. Poor South Africa looked woeful against Uruguay and are almost certain to be the first hosts to be knocked out at the group stage.
As for tomorrow - England face Algeria, in a game that they should easily win - Algeria were awful against Slovakia, have no areas where they’re likely to dominate the English, and they have a terrible goalkeeper. Whoever plays in goal for England will have it easy, and we won’t be able to draw many conclusions as to England’s chances from the performance - that is unless it is anything other than a routine win.
